The result did not go Saina's way. Tai was simply outstanding and Saina hardly got any chance. Plus Saina made a few errors of her own too.

BUT THAT DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT SHE BEAT THREE TOP-10 PLAYERS AT THIS EVENT, INCLUDING PV SINDHU. She has been playing way better than last year and moved brilliantly in all the four matches she played en route to the final.

That itself should boost Saina's confidence and motivate her to do well this year. And next up is the India Open at home. Saina should indeed be doubly motivated to impress her home fans!

Saina Nehwal will face World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the final of the Indonesia Masters on Sunday.

After having a glorious run in this tournament where she beat her compatriot PV Sindhu in the quarters and former World Champion Ratchanok Inthanon in the semis, the star shuttler is ready for her sixth BWF final in Jakarta.

The former World No. 1, who has won thrice in Indonesia, dished out a spirited performance to overcome a fighting Ratchanok 21-19 21-19 in the semifinal lasting 48 minutes.

Saina’s first Superseries triumph was at the Indonesia Open in 2009, where she beat Wang Lin in the final. She successfully defended her title the next year when she beat Japan’s Sayaka Sato and added yet another title at the same place in 2012 when she edged Li Xuerui in three gruelling games.

Other than the three wins, the former World No. 1 also finished as runner-up at the same tournament in 2011 when Wang Yihan prevailed over her.

Saina’s fifth final in Jakarta was in 2015 when she lost the World Championships final to Carolina Marin.